Dr Post leads Pacific Classic aspirants in final tune-ups

Dr Post worked four furlongs in 49.22 seconds at Saratoga and is now a confirmed go for next Saturday's $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

“We’re pleased with his workout and he’ll go west,” Pletcher said. “He is scheduled to ship on Tuesday.”

Magic On Tap worked five furlongs under jockey Abel Cedillo in 59 seconds flat this morning for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in a final prep for the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic which is now one week away. It was one of five works, at Del Mar and Saratoga, by nominees for the signature event of the summer season.

“It went well. We’re running in the Pacific Classic,” Baffert said via text of Magic On Tap’s exercise.

A stumble at the start severely compromised the 5-year-old son of Tapit’s chances in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap, the major prep for the 1 1/4-mile TVG Pacific Classic. Magic On Tap had arrived at Del Mar with a record of three victories in six career starts and earnings of $228,800 and was fresh from a win in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita in May.

Later in the morning, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella sent Tizamagician out for a five-furlong work in 1:00 with an interim clocking of :36.20 second under exercise rider Austin Solis, the son of retired Hall of Fame jockey Alex Solis.

“He looked great. Couldn’t be better,” Mandella said of the 4-year-old son of Tiznow.

Tizamagician has five wins in 18 career starts and earnings of $427,851. He stamped himself as a TVG Pacific Classic contender by winning the 1 1/2-mile, Cougar II Stakes (G3) on July 18.

Mo Mosa, trained by Michael Maker, went five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Del Mar under exercise rider Marcelo Medina in a team work with stablemate Fight On. Track clockers recorded splits  of 11.2; 23.0; 35.2 and a final quarter in 25.1 seconds.

“It was a great work, we were very pleased with it,” said Nolan Ramsey, in charge of the Del Mar string for Maker. “We need to speak with the owners. The Pat O’Brien is an option, but it (Pacific Classic) is still on the table for discussion.”

Mo Mosa finished fourth -- behind Pacific Classic nominees Express Train, Tripoli and Royal Ship – in the San Diego Handicap shipping in from a stakes victory in May at Lone Star Park in Texas.

Cupid’s Claws, owned by Flawless Racing and partners and trained by Craig Dollase, worked five furlongs from the gate at Del Mar in 1:00 under Umberto Rispoli.

“He looked good and he finished up very well,” Dollase said. “It’s a go for the Pacific Classic.”

Pacific Classic nominee The Great One went six furlongs in 1:13.20, but trainer Doug O’Neill said the 3-year-old is more likely to stay in competition with his age group peers in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes on August 29. Trainer Mike McCarthy said Independence Hall, who worked Friday, still has the Charlestown Classic as the main target.